We’ve always known that our operations director, Helen is a force of nature, and it has been wonderful this week to see other people give her the recognition she deserves as well.
The Enterprise Vision Awards recognise women in business from across the North West. And this week, in a glittering award ceremony in Blackpool, it named our co-founder Helen as winner in the Internet Industry category. Helen’s win is even more remarkable because she was anonymously nominated for the award.
She said,
I would never have put myself forward for something like this, but once I was told that I’d been nominated for the Enterprise Vision Awards I was thrilled! And flattered, of course. I’d like to thank whoever nominated me – these awards are a fantastic way to celebrate women in business.
Celebrating Women in Business
Helen is no stranger to the difficult work/life balance that is required to be a successful businesswoman. Helen gave a presentation at the International Business Festival in Liverpool earlier this year; as their North West Business Exporter of the Year the Federation of Small Businesses had asked her to share Hydraulics Online’s exporting journey and insights. There were audible gasps from the audience as she revealed that the Hydraulics Online brand had been built from scratch while raising five children!
Helen says,
I juggle the whole work-life balance with being a mum to five and a parent governor at a local school too; paying it forward really matters to me.
Helen’s drive to “pay it forward” is the reason why our team has been so involved with local schools and Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business School over the last twelve months. It is also why Hydraulics Online makes a point of enabling all staff achieve the right work-life balance they want – Finance Manager, Joanna, can finally attend her sons’ school events, for example.
Helen continues, “It was lovely to be recognised personally for the ever-evolving role that I have played in building and growing the Hydraulics Online brand. Obviously, this award win is another fabulous platform for the business to build upon – as well as for me personally. I’m really keen to work more closely with those in education and local charities, and this win will help to inspire further engagement. It’s yet another reason why 2018 is proving to be a really exciting time for us!”
An Exciting Twelve Months for Hydraulics Online
Hydraulics Online has experienced some amazing award successes in the last 12 months, starting with our triple award recognition at our local South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry awards last November. We scooped awards for our Excellence in Customer Service and International Trader and were highly commended in Ambassador of the Year.
This triple recognition set us something of our journey – introducing us to many new contacts, enabling us to work more closely with some really great people, most notably the teams at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Centre for Enterprise and Business School, the Federation of Small Businesses here in the North West and the Department for International Trade.
We’re now busy with a major rebranding exercise which includes an overhaul of the website to improve the online experience for our visitors and customers. Once that has launched, there’s no doubt Helen will be looking for her next challenge – whether that is new ways to grow the Hydraulics Online brand globally or new opportunities to make a difference in communities here in South Cheshire and further afield.
Watch the moment Helen received her award
Congratulations on your Enterprise Vision Awards win, Helen – the team here at Hydraulics Online all agree it is richly deserved.
